Jean reibel



No. 6I8,730. Patented lan. 31,1899.

J. REIBEL.

ACETYLENEGAS GENERATOR. (Appugation and me. 22, 1h97.) (No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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' No.v 618,730. Patented 1an. 3|, |899. J. REIBEL.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Dec. 22, 1897.)

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NITED STATES PATENT omer.

JEAN REIBEL, or ANeoULnnE, FRANCE;

I ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 618,730, ete Januarj s1, 189e.

Application tiled December 22, 1897. Serial No. 563,033 (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JEAN REIBEL, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at 24 Rue de Lavalette, Angoulme, France, have invented certain Improvements in Apparatus for Generating Acetylene Gas, (for which I have obtained a French patent, dated May 14, 1897, No. 266,946,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for producing or generating acetylene gas and one which automatically produces the gas according to the supply needed by the fall of fragments of calcium or other suitable carbid into a vessel of water.

The following description refers to the anneXed drawings, upon which- Figure l shows an apparatus in elevation, including the gazogene and the gasometer. Fig. 2 is a section of the gazogene on line 2 2 of Fig. l.` Fig. 3 is a section of the gazogene on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the carbid being removed, showing in plan the distributer apparatus. Fig. t is a detail view of the pawland-ratchet device for operating the distributer apparatus. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tray holding the carbid and of the distributor. Fig. 6 is a diagram of an alternative device for regulating the generation of the gas. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the pulley used in this arrangement.

This gas-generator consists of two partsthe gasometer and the gazogene--which may be arranged side by side.

The gasometer is not of special construction, but is placed by the side of the gazogene only to be able to control the distributing apparatus by means of the bell of the gas-holder f traveling on rods or guides b', attached to the walls of the tank A, the bell or holder being thus guided in its vertical movement. To the upper part of the holder is secured a rubber tube b2, serving to conduct the gas out of the.

holder. A tube a rises from the bottom of the tank A and is continued above the level of the water to within the holder B. This'tube at a' passes through the wall of the tank A for the purpose of conducting the gas from the gazogene into the holder.

The gazogene is formed of a receiver C, inclosing the distributing arrangement, which allows fragments of calcium carbid to fall in variable quantities and according to the consumption of gas into the Water contained in a second tank D. The fragments of calcium carbid are contained in a bottomless reservoir E, ordinarily square or rectangular, whereof the section is enlarged toward the base. At its upper part it is closed by a, cover e, and at the lower part its opening corresponds to an Vopening in the upper wall c of the receiver C. One of the walls e' of the reservoirE registers with or meets the upper end of a curved y plate f, arranged within the receiver C. This plate f forms part of the tray F. (Shown in detail on Fig. 5.) It consists of two side plates f f', bent back to form two flanges f2 f2, by which the plate is secured to the wall o of the receiver C Within this latter in such a manner that the curved plate f registers with the Wall e' of reservoir E. The two side plates f f' are joined or connected at their ends by a wall f3. The lower edge of the plates f' f meets the side edge of the curved plate f and extends downward from the end of the flanges f2, then is curved out to f4, and is afterward carried down vertically to f5. The

vertical edges f5 are joined by a wall f6, parallel to the wall f3, which thus forms a chimney, the section of which is shown as f7 f7. It will thus be remarked that the walls f' f are not exactly parallel, but that they spread apart from each end toward the vertical edges 5. The widened shapes of the reservoirE and of the part F are so made to allow the lumps of calcium carbid to fall freely from the hopper E into the tray F.

The space between the curved plate f and the vertical wall f6 of the chimney is filled by part of an endless band G, arranged underneath the tray. This band or strap G in the part which closes the space between the curved bottom f and the vertical wall]c6 is supported by small rollers H, perpendicular to the sides of the band and turning on axes h, adj usted in two parallel frames h, held by.

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supports h2, fixed to the bottom c2 of the receiver C. The end roller II at the chimney side partly its into the recess f 4, and the roller at the opposite end serves as a tension-roller. Its axis is mounted on pivots h, arranged in vertical guides h3 on the supports h. This roller (marked H2) is arranged under the edge of the plate j', and the belt G passes under it. The band G passes over and puts in motion a drum I, which is rotatable on an axle t, journaled in the frames or supports 7L'. The axis t' passes through a side wall of the receiver C, and a ratchet-wheel z2 is keyed to an extension of the same; The chimney f7 fits into a channel J, of slightly-larger section, which passes through the wall separating the receiver C and tank D and enters this latter, the channel J thus aording the only communication between the two parts C and D. The channel J descends vertically to j, then is inclined toy", and afterward is inclined-in the opposite direction to discharge at ,72 into the midst of the water contained in D. At apoint just below the level a: of the water the wall of channel J in the slanting portion js and on the side of the interior of the angle formed in the channel is situated an opening j, by which the channel J communicates with a small chamber js, which is open at top, thereby communicating with the air of the receiver D. This chamberj, as well as the vertical part J and the inclined portion J2 of the channel J, containsa certain qantity of petroleum or of a liquid of a density less than that of water, and which, as well as its vapors, is without action on calcium carbid. This column of petroleum (represented on the drawings by cross-hatching) extends to a point j, so that the bubbles of gas arising from the water underneath cannot enter the vertical part J of the channel J and for the most part escape by the opening y2. Those which do not come out by that part then escape by the opening jt, cross the layer of petroleum under the chamber j and reach the receiver D. The petroleum or other liquid for the same purpose is introduced into the chamber jf by a tube 7a, fed by a tube K', xed to the bottom of a petroleum-reservoir K, placed on the upper face of the case C. This reservoir can be closed by a plug or stopper 7a2. Water can be introduced into the tank D by a tube Il, leading from a reservoir Z, fitted with a lid l' and placed on the upper part of the receiver or case C, the tube L being furnished with a cock Z2 to regulate the flow of water. The gas escapes from the tank D by a tube M, which at its upper extremity m enters a cylinder m', fixed to the partition between C and D, opening into this latter, but not communicating with C. This cylinder acts as a pocket or small chamber into which the tube M leads. This latter descends into the tank D through the water therein contained and passes out through this receptacle at m2. It is joined to the tube a, which is continued through the case of the tankA at a. by means of a tube N. The water in the receptacle D, as well as the residues of the reaction, can be discharged through a cock d.

The drum I, around which the endless band G passes, is operated in the following manner: On its axis t', between the Wall of the roceptacle C and the ratchet-wheel 2,is mounted a lever O, whose end is fitted witha counterpoise 0, tending to support it at this end on a support 0'. The other end of the lever is formed into a link 02, and on this part of the lever adjoining the ratchet-wheel 2 is arranged a pawl 03. On the link 02 is ixed by a bolt 04 a pivot 05, which is adjustable within a link p, forming part of a rod P, jointed at p to the upper casing of the bell-l1older I3. The rod P being rather long and consequently somewhat flexible, a nut 06, fixed to the pivot 05, prevents it from disengagement with the link p. A double-gage glass Q Q', formed of glass tube incased in metal mountings q q, allows the level of separation of the water and the petroleum in the channel J to be shown in one half Q and the level of water in receptacle D to be shown in the other half Q. This double level may be furnished with cocks q2. An overflow arrangement is adapted to the tank D. A tube R communicates with the receptacle D at a point o, which ought always to be above the level of the water. Another tube o", terminated by a bend r2, can slide in the tube R. By the help of this ar rangement the water in the receptacle D escapes when it reaches the level of the curved beak r'. This arrangement can be employed to obtain a continuous current of water in the apparatus, the Water being fed in by tube L.

The working of the gas-producer apparatus above described is as follows: Supposing the bell-holder B to already contain a certain quantity of gas, as soon as this bell falls on consumption of gas the rod P descends with it, being put in motion by the pivot o, lever O makes it oscillate on its axis t', the pawl 03 acts on the ratchet-wheel i2, draws it, and the drum I turns for a certain space, causing travel of the endless band G. This causes the lumps of carbid to fall down, and a number of these fall into the channel J and into the water in the receptacle D, and acetylene gas Ais produced, bubbles rising from the liquid and uniting in the upper part of the receptacle D, the gas enters the pocket m, and thence by the tubes M, N, and a is conducted to the bell-holder B, and this latter rises, resuming its position. The above is repeated after a fresh descent by the bell-holder, and so on.

The course of the lever O is limited by the support o', as we have seen above, and according to the position of this support o the rotation of the cylinder I, and consequently the fall of the fragments of carbid, can be fixed for any desired point in the fall of the bellholder.

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By changing the position of the pivot o4 in the slide 02 a larger or smaller movement of the lever-arm is obtained, and consequently is attached a weight t4.

the amount of rotation of the cylinder l can be varied;

.The column of petroleum contained in the channel J` serves as a passage for the lumps of carbid as long as they have ,not reached a point at which the bubbles of gas produced are prevented from reaching the upper part J' of this channel, and thence likely to attain the reserve of carbid. Any bubbles accidentally rising up the channel J escape by the opening j and, passing through the layer of petroleum in the chamber j, join the gas in the receptacle D.

As shown on Figs. Gand 7, there is another arrangement whereby the bell B can control the drum l. The remainder of the apparatus is as previously described. On the axis t' of the drum, between the ratchet-wheel 2 and the wall of the case C, is mounted in place of the lever() a pulley S, on the face of which is arranged a pawl s, engaging the ratchetwheel i2. This pawl is kepton the ratchetwheel by a spring s. In the upper part of the bell B is secured a cord T by a ring b3, which cord passes over supporting-pulleys tt, several times around pulley S, as is shown, Fig. 7, and afterward hangs vertically downward. A weight t is attached toits end,which weight can rest on a support t2. On the part of the cord between the two pulleys t t is placed a small pulley t3, to the axis of which This controlling arrangement of the drum l works as follows: Vhen by reason of the consumption of gas the bell B descends, the pulley S turns, the pawl s works on the teeth of the ratchet-wheel t2, the axis i, as well as the drum and the band, is put in motion, and fragments of carbid fall into the water, so. that gas is again generated. The bell-holder B rises; but the pawl s then no longer works on the ratchetteeth. The fall of the carbid can bemade to take place at a predetermined point in the descent of the bell-holder by suitably alter- `ing the position of the support t2, on which the weight t rests, this latter being raised at this moment and the cord R then acting on' the pulley S.

The small weight t4, suspended from the pulley t3, has for its object to always maintain in a state of sufficient tension the part of the cord T wound around the pulley S, the tension being such as to prevent the entangle ment of the cord. Y It will be remarked that this apparatus alp lows a large quantity of water to be used, and

I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the feed-hopper, the tray located under ,the hopper and having an open bottom, the traveling belt forming a movable bottom for the said tray and also forming a support and a feeding device for the carbid supplied from the hopper,a generator proper into which the carbid passes at the end of the belt, a gasometer connected with the vgenerator and having a movable part, and a connection for operating the belt by the movement of the gasometer.

2. An acetylene-gas generator, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, a carbid-tray located above the receptacle, and a feed chute or channel arranged within the receptacle and adapted to dip into the water, the upper end of the feed-channel being located adjacent to the carbid-tray, and the upper and lower portions of the channel being inclined in opposite directions, forming an elbow.

8. An acetylene-gas generator, comprising .a receptacle adapted to contain water, a carbid-tray located above the receptacle, a chute or channel whose upper end is located in the receptacle adjacent to the bottom ofthe tray, the upper portion of vthe channel being inclined in one direction, and the lower portion 9 in the opposite direction, the upperpart of the channel being filled with a liquid impervious to moist-ure, and means for feeding the carbid.

4. An acetylene-gas generator, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, a carbid-tray located above the receptacle, a chute or channel whose upper end is located in the receptacle adjacent to the bottom of the tray, the upper portion of the channel being inclined in one direction, and the lower portion in the opposite direction, the upper part of the channel being iilled with a liquid impervious to moisture, and an auxiliary receptacle communicating with the upper end of the channel and with the top of the Water-receptacle, the said moisture-proof liquid extending into the auxiliary receptacle to cut the latter off from communication with the carbid-tray.

5. An acetylene-gas generator, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain water, a carbid-tray located above the receptacle, a chute or channel for discharging the carbid from the tray into the receptacle, the tray increasing in width from both ends toward that por- TOO IIO

tion of the saidv channel which is nearest to the feed end of the tray, and means for feeding the carbid.

G. The combination of the feed-hopper, the

.il v elv roller engaging the belt', a driving device on In testimony whereof I have signed my the shaft of one of the rollers, a generator name to this specification in the presence of proper into which the carbid passes at the end two Subscribir] g Witnesses.

of the belt, a gasonleter Connected with the JEAN REIBEL. 5 generator and having a movable part, and a Witnesses:

Connection from the moving part of the gas- FREDERIC KOKO,

ometer to the driving device of the beit. MATHEW PLAUD; 

